Comparative structural analysis of snail galactans by a radioimmunoassay to elucidate species-specific determinants

Summary Galactans, the storage polysaccharides in the perivitelline fluid of many snails showed a high degree of species-specificity as revealed by quantitative precipitin formations with lectins, polyclonal antisera, myeloma proteins as well as by the reactivity with the enzyme galactose oxidase. However, their chemical compositions were remarkably similar since thed-Gal residues were all linked 13 and 16 glycosidically.The specificity seemed to be related to the different degrees of branching in the various galactans but could also be due to some other minor constituents in some galactans such asl-galactose or phosphate.In this study a Radioimmunoassay was developed using the galactan of the snailLymnaea stagnalis to elucidate those differences which were only related to a unique distribution of the 13 and 16 linkages, since this galactan was composed exclusively ofd-galactose residues. The galactan was labeled by sequential oxidation with galactose oxidase and reduction with tritiated sodium borohydride. Inhibition of the binding of the labeled galactan to insolubilized antibodies was investigated by galactans of different species, their chemically modified products, andd-galactose-composed oligosaccharides of unambiguously identified structures.Inhibition byLymnaea stagnalis galactan was about 45 000 times that ofHelix pomatia galactan. The most complementary oligosaccharide found was -d-Gal13[-d-Gal16]-d-Gal11l-Gro, being about 200 times more effective thand-Gal. However, a fraction with molecular weights between 700 and 1000 isolated from the partially hydrolized galactan was still seven times more effective. From the reactivity of the antiserum with the different oligosaccharides tested the following structure was inferred which most likely represented the complete determinant recognized by the antiserum: -d-Gal13[-d-Gal16]-d-Gal16[-d-Gal13]-d-Gal1. This determinant seemed to be most common inLymnaea stagnalis galactan and its frequency of occurrence appears to correspond to the inhibitory potency of other snail galactans.     

A novel pollen-specific α-tubulin in sunflower: structure and characterization

We describe here a new -tubulin isoform from sunflower we named -tubulin. -tubulin is the most divergent higher-plant -tubulin described so far, having an unusual deletion in the H1/B2 loop and a glutamine-rich C-terminus. We constructed a three-dimensional model and discuss its implications. Using specific antibodies, we show that -tubulin expression is restricted to the male gametophyte. -tubulin mRNA represents 90% of -tubulin mRNA and a small percentage of total pollen mRNA. Among the plants tested, -tubulin was only detected in sunflower and in Cosmos. Since both plants are Asteraceae, we propose that -tubulin is specific to this family. Our results suggest that -tubulin can inhibit tubulin assembly in pollen. This hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that -tubulin is found in a complex with -tubulin in mature sunflower pollen.     

Immuno-gene therapy of melanoma by tumor antigen epitope modified IFN-γ

Cytokine-based vaccines play a major part in tumor immuno-gene therapy. However, down-regulated antigen expression on tumor cells may diminish the immuno-potentiating aspects of cellular vaccines. In this study, we coexpressed a tumor antigen epitope with IFN- in the same gene by replacing the IFN- signal peptide with an antigen epitope-expressing signal peptide. We then investigated the effect of the antigen epitope-incorporated IFN- on the immunotherapy of murine melanoma B16 tumors. Results showed that TRP-2 epitope-expressing IFN- decreased B16 tumorigenicity and enhanced its immunogenicity after gene transfer. Protective immunity against wild type B16 tumors was induced by vaccination with IFN- transiently gene-modified tumor cells. These data suggest that cellular vaccines engineered to express an antigen epitope within an immunostimulatory cytokine could potentiate the immunization effect.     

Hepatic α1 and β adrenergic receptors in various animal species

Summary Plasma membranes were isolated from the livers of various animal species representing the four vertebrate classes: Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia. These liver plasma membranes displayed comparable levels of purity as judged by marker enzyme analysis. The activities of the two marker enzymes, 5-nucleotidase and -glutamyltranspeptidase displayed striking, and quite different, species-dependent differences, with no apparent relationship to phylogeny. ₁ and -adrenergic receptors were characterized in isolated liver plasma membranes by radioligand binding techniques. The hepatic -adrenergic receptor was found to be expressed in all animals studied; the hepatic ₁-adrenergic receptor was absent in Amphibia and Reptilia, co-expressed with the receptor in Aves, and dominant over the receptor in Mammalia. These results suggest that, in liver, the -adrenergic receptor is more primitive while the ₁-adrenergic receptor is of a more recent phylogenetic origin. It is proposed that the latter may have evolved in conjunction with hepatic sympathetic innervation.     

Cellular localization of induced human interferon-β mRNA by non-radioactive in situ hybridization

Summary Induced interferon- (IFN-) mRNA was localized in human FS-4 fibroblasts by in situ hybridization using biotinylated probes. The hybridization sites were detected by incubation with a nick-translated genomic DNA probe (1.8 kb) via streptavidin-colloidal gold followed by silver contrast enhancement. The positive signals were observed by reflection-contrast light microscopy. IFN- mRNA was transiently induced by poly r(I):r(C) in fibroblasts 2–4 h after induction. Induction in the presence of cycloheximide and actinomycin D (superinduction conditions) exhibited an enhanced level of IFN- mRNA with a maximum at 4–8 h. The kinetics of the IFN- mRNA expression in the cytoplasm as revealed by in situ hybridization proved to be compatible with the results of Northern biotting experiments of total cellular RNA.     

Tumor sensitivity to IFN-γ is required for successful antigen-specific immunotherapy of a transplantable mouse tumor model for HPV-transformed tumors

Purpose: Many human tumors lose responsiveness to IFN-, providing a possible mechanism for the tumor to avoid immune recognition and destruction. Here we investigate the importance of tumor responsiveness to IFN- in the successful immunotherapy of TC1 tumors that were immortalized with human papillomavirus proteins E6 and E7. Methods: To investigate the role of IFN- in vivo, we constructed a variant of TC1, TC1.mugR, that is unresponsive to IFN- due to overexpression of a dominant negative IFN- receptor. Results: Using recombinant Listeria monocytogenes that express HPV-16 E7 (Lm-LLO-E7) to stimulate an antitumor response, we demonstrate that sensitivity to IFN- is required for therapeutic efficacy in that Lm-LLO-E7 induces regression of TC1 tumors but not TC1.mugR. In addition, we show that tumor sensitivity to IFN- is not required for inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by Lm-LLO-E7 or for trafficking of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells to the tumor. However, it is required for penetration of lymphocytes into the tumor mass in vivo. Conclusions: Our findings identify a role for IFN- in immunity to TC1 tumors and show that loss of tumor responsiveness to IFN- poses a challenge to antigen-based immunotherapy.Mary E. Dominiecki and Gregory L. Beatty contributed equally to this work.     

The evolution of the type I interferon gene family in mammals

A phylogenetic analysis of mammalian type I interferon (IFN) genes showed: (1) that the three main subfamilies of these genes in mammals (IFN-, IFN-, and IFN-) diverged after the divergence of birds and mammals but before radiation of the eutherian orders and (2) that IFN- diverged first. Although apparent cases of interlocus recombination among mouse IFN- genes were identified, the hypothesis that coding regions of IFN- genes have been homogenized within species by interlocus recombination was not supported. Flanking regions as well as coding regions of IFN- were more similar within human and mouse than between these species; and reconstruction of the pattern of nucleotide substitution in IFN- coding regions of four mammalian species by the maximum parsimony method suggested that parallel substitutions have occurred far more frequently between species than within species. Therefore, it seems likely that IFN- genes have duplicated independently within different eutherian orders. In general, type I IFN genes are subject to purifying selection, which in the case of IFN- and IFN- is strongest in the putative receptor-binding domains. However, analysis of the pattern of nucleotide substitution among IFN- genes suggested that positive Darwinian selection may have acted in some cases to diversify members of this subfamily at the amino acid level.     

Oligomerization reactions of deoxyribonucleotides on montmorillonite clay: The effect of mononucleotide structure,phosphate activation and montmorillonite composition on phosphodiester bond formation

2-d-5-GMP and 2-d-5-AMP bind 2 times more strongly to montmorillonite 22A than do 2-d-5-CMP and 5-TMP. The dinucleotide d(pG)₂ forms in 9.2% yield and the cyclic dinucleotide c(dpG)₂ in 5.4% yield in the reaction of 2-d-5-GMP with EDAC in the presence of montmorillonite 22A. The yield of d(pC)₂ (2.0%) is significantly lower but comparable to that obtained from 5-TMP. The yield of dimers which contain the phosphodiester bond decreases as the reaction medium is changed from 0.2 M NaCl to a mixture of 0.2 M NaCl and 0.075 M MgCl₂. A low yield of d(pA)₂ was observed in the condensation reaction of 5-ImdpA on montmorillonite 22A. The cyclic nucleotide (3,5-cdAMP) was obtained in 14% yield from 3-ImdpA. The yield of d(pA)₂ obtained when EDAC is used as the condensing agent increases with increasing iron content of the Na⁺-montmorillonite used as catalyst. Evidence is presented which shows that the acidity of the Na⁺-montmorillonite is a necessary but not sufficient factor for the montmorillonite catalysis of phosphodiester bond formation.     

Lectin-histochemical analysis of glycans in ovine and bovine near-term placental binucleate cells

Chorionic binucleate cells (BNC) occur in several ruminants including cow, deer, goat and sheep. They migrate through the chorionic tight junction to fuse with uterine epithelial cells and discharge their granules into maternal connective tissue. We have compared the BNC of near-term, resin-embedded, ovine and bovine placentae using 15 biotinylated lectins and an avidinperoxidase revealing system. There was pronounced conservation of saccharides between the two species. Several sub-types of N-glycan were present, with highly branched structures being abundant, as shown by Galanthus nivalis, Pisum sativum and Phaseolus vulgaris (leuko) agglutinins. Among the non-reducing terminal saccharides conserved were GalNAc1,3(Fuc1,2)-Gal1,4GlcNAc1-, GalNAc1,6Gal1-, Gal1,4GlcNAc-and Gal1,3GalNAc1- shown by Dolichos biflorus, Wisteria floribunda, Erythrina cristagalli, and Maclura pomifera agglutinins, respectively. Arachis hypogaea and Glycine max agglutinins tended to bind to bovine BNC at different stages of maturity, while fucosyl residues detectable by Tetragonolobus purpureus and Ulex europaeus-1 agglutinins were not observed in either species. The only major difference related to sialyl residues, with 2,3-linked sialic acid being present in bovine (Maackia amurensis, Limax flavus) and 2,6 sialic acid being present in ovine (Sambucus nigra agglutinin) cells. This conservation of glycan may be related to glycosylation of peptide hormones in the granules, and may thus be important in the targeting of these hormones to their receptors.     

Monitoring proteolysis of recombinant human interferon-γ during batch culture of Chinese hamster ovary cells

Proteolytic cleavage of recombinant human interferon- (IFN-) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells during batch fermentation has been monitored by mass spectrometric peptide mapping. IFN- was purified from cell-free culture supernatant by immunoaffinity chromatography and cleaved by endoprotease Asp-N. Peptide fragments were resolved by reverse-phase HPLC and identified by a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and automated N-terminal peptide sequencing. Using this approach, a peptide was identified as the C-terminal fragment of the IFN- polypeptide. Analysis of this peptide by MS indicated that the recombinant IFN- polypeptide secreted by CHO cells was truncated by at least ten amino acids, initially at Gln¹³³-Met¹³⁴. No full length (143 amino acids) polypeptide molecules were observed at any stages of the fermentation. Additional proteolytic cleavages at basic amino acids N-terminal of Gln¹³³ occurred during the later stages of the culture resulting in a heterogeneous IFN- polypeptide population with 'ragged' C-termini.     

New pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic tools for interferon-alpha (IFN-α) treatment of human cancer

Interferon (IFN-) has been widely used in the treatment of human solid and haematologic malignancies. Although the antitumour activity of IFN- is well recognised at present, no major advances have been achieved in the last few years. Recent findings have provided new information on the molecular mechanisms of the antitumour activity of the cytokine. In fact, IFN- appears to block cell proliferation, at least in part, through the induction of apoptotic effects. This cytokine can also regulate the progression of tumour cells through the different phases of the cell cycle inducing an increase of the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27. However, it must be considered that IFN- is a physiologic molecule with ubiquitously expressed receptors that is likely to activate survival mechanisms in the cell. We have recently identified an epidermal growth factor (EGF) Ras-dependent protective response to the apoptosis induced by IFN- in epidermoid cancer cells. The identification of tissue- and/or tumour-specific survival pathways and their selective targeting might provide a new approach to improve the efficacy of IFN-–based treatment of human cancer. Moreover, new pegylated species of IFN- are now available with a more favourable pharmacokinetic profile. We will review these achievements, and we will specifically address the topic of IFN-–based molecularly targeted combinatory antitumour approaches.     

Synergistic effects of TGIF and interferonγ (IFN-γ) on tumor cell growthTGIF and IFN-γ

Interferon- (IFN-) and tumor growth inhibitory factor (TGIF) were inducedin vitro in the supernatant from mixed culture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and OK-432. TGIF activity was determined by growth inhibition of a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, MK-1 cells, and IFN- activity was measured by radioimmunoassay. The production of TGIF and IFN- was time-dependent, reaching its maximum around 48 hrs. Although there was no significant correlation between TGIF production and IFN- production, combination of a subthreshold concentration of recombinant IFN- (rIFN-) and TGIF induced significant growth inhibition of MK-1 cells. This fact indicates that the effects of rIFN- and TGIF are synergistic. The antiproliferative effect of these cytokines are highly species-specific, and their synergistic effects were also species-specific. rIFN--sensitive and -resistant clones were successfully established from the original MK-1 cell line; those clones are both sensitive to TGIF. Synergistic antiproliferative effects were found when the rIFN--sensitive clone, but not the resistant clone, was used as a target, suggesting that the synergistic effects require the target cells' sensitivity to IFN-. These results indicate that the synergistic effects of TGIF and IFN- may produce a clinical antitumor action in cancer patients receiving OK-432 administration.     

Mice lacking the IFN-γ receptor or fyn develop severe experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis characterized by different immune responses

Endogenous interferon (IFN)- negatively regulates experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), a Th1-mediated disease. Although it is well known that IFN- exerts its effects by binding to the IFN- receptor (IFN-R), the role that IFN-R plays in the development of EAU has not been investigated. Fyn has been reported to inhibit Th2 differentiation. We aimed to investigate how endogenous IFN-R and fyn, which influence Th1/Th2 differentiation, participate in the development of EAU. Sex-matched 6- to 10-week-old C57BL/6 wild-type (WT), IFN-R knockout (GRKO) and fyn knockout (fyn KO) mice were compared. Mice were immunized subcutaneously with human interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein peptide 1–20 emulsified in Freunds complete adjuvant together with an intraperitoneal injection of Bordetella pertussis toxin. Three weeks later, mice were sacrificed, and their eyes and spleens were harvested for histopathologic analyses and examination of cellular immune responses, respectively. Cellular immune responses were evaluated by measuring the proliferative responses and cytokine production [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, IFN- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-] of splenocytes. The incidence of EAU was 40.0% in WT mice, 59.3% in GRKO mice and 78.6% in fyn KO mice. The average EAU score was 0.294 in WT mice, 0.917 in GRKO mice and 1.063 in fyn KO mice. Upon EAU induction, significant infiltration of eosinophils into the eyes was observed in GRKO and fyn KO mice compared to WT mice. Splenocytes from GRKO mice proliferated against the antigen and a mitogen more vigorously than those from WT and fyn KO mice. Stimulation of splenocytes with the antigen induced a higher production of IL-4, IL-6, IL-13 and IFN- in GRKO mice compared to WT and fyn KO mice. In contrast, IL-5 and TNF- were most abundantly produced by splenocytes from fyn KO mice compared to WT and GRKO mice. The incidence and mean severity of EAU were significantly higher in GRKO and fyn KO mice than in WT mice, suggesting that endogenous IFN-R and fyn negatively regulate the development of EAU. The different cytokine production patterns by the GRKO and fyn KO mice indicate that the negative regulatory mechanism mediated by IFN-R and fyn may differ.     

Differential binding characteristics and applications of dGalβ1→3dGalNAc specific lectins

Summary The binding properties of Arachis hypogaea (PNA), Bauhinia vurpurea alba (BPL), Maclura pomifera (MPL) and Sophora japonica (SJL) lectins were studied by quantitative precipitin and precipitin inhibition assays, demonstrating them to be most specific for dGal13dGalNAc residues. Additionally, each lectin had its own binding characteristic such as different binding abilities to dGal14dGlcNAc or dGal13dGlcNAc1linked oligosaccharides, and/or dGalNAc1linked to the Ser or Thr of the protein moiety. These differential binding characteristics can be used for investigating fine differences of the carbohydrate structure of the glycoconjugates, especially those having dGal13dGalNAc residues as terminal non-reducing ends.Abbreviations dGal d-galactopyranose - dMan d-mannopyranose - dGalNAc 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-galacto-pyranose - dGlcNAc 2-acetamino-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose - LFuc L-fucose - NeuNAc N-acetylneuraminic acid - Ser serine - Thr Threonine - RCA Ricinus communis agglutinin - SBA Soy bean agglutinin (Glycine max) - HPA Helix pomatia agglutinin - DBL Dolichos biflorus lectin - GCL Geodia cydonium lectin     

Lung cancer mortality among nuclear workers of the Mayak facilities in the former Soviet Union. An updated analysis considering smoking as the main confounding factor

A new analysis of lung cancer mortality in a cohort of male Mayak workers who started their employment in the plutonium and reprocessing plants between 1948 and 1958 has been carried out in terms of a relative risk model. The follow-up has been extended until 1999, moreover a new dosimetry system (DOSES2000) has been established. Particular emphasis has been given to a discrimination of the effects of external -exposure and internal -exposure due to incorporated plutonium. This study has also utilized and incorporated the information from a cohort of Mayak reactor workers, who were exposed only externally to -rays. The influence of smoking as the main confounding factor for lung cancer has been studied. The baseline lung cancer mortality rate was not taken from national statistics but was derived from the cohort itself. The estimated excess relative risk for the plutonium -rays was 0.23/Sv (95%CI: 0.16–0.31). The resulting risk coefficient for external -ray exposure was very low with a statistically insignificant estimate of 0.058/Sv (95%CI: –0.072–0.20). The inferred relative risk for smokers was 16.5 (95%CI: 12.6–20.5).     

Expression of bioactive human interferon-gamma in transgenic rice cell suspension cultures

We investigated the possibility of producing the therapeutic recombinant cytokine, Interferon-gamma (IFN-), in transgenic rice cell (Oryza sativa, cultivar TNG67) suspension cultures. We tested expression of two vector constructs, each harboring an Amy3 leader peptide and a C-terminus His 6 tag fused to a human IFN- cDNA, one driven by a sucrose-starvation inducible promoter (rice Amy3 promoter) and the other by a constitutive maize ubiquitin promoter, in rice cell suspensions, introduced via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. There was a significant difference in the amounts of recombinant IFN- protein produced by the Ups and Amy cell lines, as cytosolic and secretory proteins respectively. Immunological analysis of IFN- recombinant protein conferred a dose-dependent anti-dengue virus activity in human A549 cells, similar to the commercial product. We discuss the attractive attributes of using rice cell suspension system for the expression of therapeutic recombinant IFN-.     

The mode of recognition of tumor antigens by noncytolytic-type antitumor T cells: Role of antigen-presenting cells and their surface class I and class II H-2 molecules

Summary The present study investigated the role of antigen-presenting cells (APC) in the activation of noncytolytic T cells against tumor antigens. The noncytolytic-type T cells exerted their antitumor effect by producing -interferon (IFN-) and by activating macrophages as the ultimate effectors. The production of IFN- by these noncytolytic T cells following the stimulation with tumor cells required the participation of Ia⁺ APC, since the depletion of APC from cultures of tumor-immunized spleen cells resulted in almost complete inhibition of the IFN- production. Both L3T4⁺ and Lyt-2⁺ subsets of T cells were capable of producing IFN-, and the requirement of APC for the production of IFN- was the case irrespective of whether noncytolytic T cells were of L3T4⁺ or Lyt-2⁺ phenotype. More importantly, it was demonstrated that the production of IFN- by L3T4⁺ and Lyt-2⁺ T cells was inhibited by addition of the respective anti-class II and anti-class I H-2 antibody to cultures. These results indicate that antitumor L3T4⁺ or Lyt-2⁺ noncytolytic T cells are activated for the IFN- production by recognizing tumor antigens in the context of self-class II or -class I H-2 molecules on APC.This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for the Special Project Cancer-Bioscience from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan     

Alkyl-phenyl cleavage of the lignin model compounds guaiacylglycol and glycerol-β-guaiacyl ether by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The white rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium metabolized guaiacylglycol--guaiacyl ether (I) in high nitrogen, shaking and stationary cultures. 2-(o-Methoxyphenoxy) ethanol (X), 2-(o-methoxyphenoxy) acetic acid (IX) and methoxy-phydroquinone (MHQ) were identified as products of the metabolism of (I). P. chrysosporium also metabolized guaiacylglycerol--guaiacyl ether (IV) in high nitrogen stationary cultures. 2-(o-Methoxyphenoxy)-1,3 propanediol (XII) and 3-hydroxy, 2-(o-methoxy-phenyxy) propionic acid (XIV) were identified as products of the metabolism of (IV). Finally, P. chrysosporium metabolized -deoxyguaiacylglycol--guaiacyl ether (VI) and -deoxyguaiacylglycerol--guaiacyl ether (VII) in limiting nitrogen cultures. 2-(o-Methoxyphenoxy) ethanol (X) and 2-(o-methoxyphenoxy)-1,3 propanediol (XII) were identified as products of the metabolism of VI and VII respectively indicating hydroxylation of those substrates with subsequent alkyl-phenyl bond cleavage. Metabolites were identified after comparison with chemically synthesized standards by GLC-mass spectrometry.Abbreviations GLC Gas liquid chromatography - TMSi trimethylsilyl - TLC thin layer chromatography - MHQ methoxyhydroquinone     

Erbrütung der Eier von Dorsch(Gadus morhua), Flunder(Pleuronectes flesus) und Scholle(Pleuronectes platessa) unter kombinierten Temperatur- und Salzgehaltsbedingungen

Zusammenfassung 1. Die Eier von Dorsch (Gadus morhua L.), Flunder (Pleuronectes flesus L.) und Scholle (Pleuronectes platessa L.) der westlichen Ostsee wurden unter kombinierten Salzgehalts-Temperaturbedingungen (0°–16° C, 7–42 S) erbrütet. Es wurde untersucht, inwieweit die Embryonalentwicklung durch das Zusammenwirken von Temperatur und Salzgehalt beeinflußt wird.2. Die optimalen Temperatur- und Salzgehaltsbereiche für die Erbrütung von Dorsch, Flunder und Scholle wurden festgestellt. Für den Dorsch konnten drei Versuche mit unterschiedlichem Material durchgeführt werden. Die optimalen Temperaturund Salzgehaltskombinationen für die Erbrütung von Dorscheiern betrugen: (a) 6°–8° C bei 25–30 S, (b) 4° C bei 20–33 S und (c) 4°–6° C bei 33 S. Für die Flundereier wurde als optimale Temperatur-Salzgehaltskombination 4° C und 33 S gefunden. Die untersuchten Scholleneier entwickelten sich bei 6° C und 20 S am besten.3. In nicht-optimalen Temperatur- und Salzgehaltsbereichen war ein Absinken der Überlebensrate und verstärktes Auftreten morphologischer Anomalien an Embryonen und Larven zu verzeichnen. Als charakteristische Schädigungen traten Verkrümmungen der caudalen Körperregion auf. Larven, die in schwach salzigem Wasser gehalten wurden (20 und 15 S), litten an Dottersackquellung, was bei den Flunderlarven zu Kieferdeformationen führte.4. Als wahrscheinliche Ursache für die Verkrümmungen und Verwachsungen des Schwanzes wurde ein durch extreme Temperaturen allgemein gestörtes Zusammenwirken der Enzyme diskutiert.5. Die Wirkung hoher und niedriger Salzgehalte wurde in der Diskussion auf eine Störung im embryonalen Stoffwechsel zurückgeführt, die durch Änderung im Ionenmilieu der Zelle hervorgerufen wird.6. Mit zunehmender Aussüßung des Erbrütungswassers konnte bei allen untersuchten Eiern Entwicklungsverlangsamung beobachtet werden. Bei hohen Erbrütungstemperaturen wurden die Unterschiede in der Entwicklungsgeschwindigkeit geringer.7. Der für die Erbrütung optimale Salzgehalt änderte sich in Abhängigkeit von der Inkubationstemperatur. Ebenfalls war die optimale Erbrütungstemperatur in Abhängigkeit vom Salzgehalt des Erbrütungsmediums veränderlich. Extrem niedrige Salzgehalte (15 und 20 S) wurden im Bereich der Optimaltemperaturen oder bei niedrigen Temperaturen besser ertragen.8. Bei allen drei untersuchten Fischarten wurde das Auftreten von Brackwasserrassen in der Ostsee erörtert und für wahrscheinlich gehalten.

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Rearing the eggs of cod(Gadus morhua), flounder(Pleuronectes flesus) and plaice(Pleuronectes platessa) under combined temperature and salinity conditions

Eggs of Baltic cod (Gadus morhua L.), flounder (Pleuronectes flesus L.) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) have been reared under combined temperature and salinity conditions (0°–16° C, 7–42 S). Combined temperature and salinity influences on embryonic development were investigated. Optimum temperatures for the rearing of cod eggs range from 4° to 8° C, and optimum salinities from 20 to 33 S. Flounder eggs develop best at 4° C and in 33 S, and plaice eggs at 6° C and in 20 S. Suboptimum conditions result in lower percentages of larval hatching and survival, and increased morphological anomalies such as curvature of tail and body. Low salinities (20 and 15 S) cause swollen yolk sacs which, in experiments with flounder eggs, lead to jaw deformities. Rearing at low salinity decreases speed of development. Optimum salinity varies as a function of incubation temperature and influences variations in optimum rearing temperature. Extremely low salinities (20 and 15 S) are tolerated best at optimum or lower temperatures. From the results of these experiments it can be concluded that brackish water races of these fishes are likely to exist in the Baltic Sea.

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Diese Arbeit wurde als Dissertation unter der Leitung von Herrn Prof. Dr.K. Lillelund am Institut für Hydrobiologie und Fischereiwissenschaft der Universität Hamburg angefertigt. Für die Drucklegung wurde die Arbeit geringfügig gekürzt und in ihrem Wortlaut abgeändert.     

Somatic cell mapping of the bovine interferon-α receptor

The bovine interferon- receptor (BoIFN-R) mediates the activity of bovine IFN-s and IFN-. In addition, human IFN-s have uniformly high biological activity on bovine cells. A ³²P-labeled derivative of human recombinant IFN-A (HuIFN-A-P1) binds well and can form a characteristic 130-kDa complex on bovine cells, but not on hamster cells. We have, therefore, analyzed the binding and covalent crosslinking of [³²P]HuIFN-A-P1 to a panel of bovine-hamster somatic cell hybrids. Binding to several bovine-hamster hybrid cell lines was strong (about 30–50% of that seen with bovine MDBK cells) and specific. The binding correlated uniquely with bovine syntenic group U10. In several of the hybrid lines, the ability of human IFN-B to enhance the expression of endogenous MHC class I molecules correlated with the binding results. We thus conclude that the bovine IFN-R structural gene (locus designation IFNAR) localizes to syntenic group U10. This group includes a number of other genes whose homologs map to human Chromosome (Chr) 21.A summary of this work was presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Interferon Research (November 1991, Nice, France) and appeared as an abstract for that meeting (Langer et al., J Interferon Res 11 (Suppl): S203, 1991).